Afghanistan formally launched the export of pine nuts to China via air corridor which was inaugurated between the two countries on Tuesday.

The Office of the President, ARG Palace, said the Afghanistan-China air corridor was inaugurated by President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani earlier today, during a ceremony which was attended by other high level officials.

According to a statement released by ARG Palace, the first consignment would consist of 20 tons of pine nuts to be transported via air corridor to china.

President Ghani said the government would seriously consider much attention to the hidden treasures of the country, including pine nuts, pistachios, and cumin, emphasizing that the national day of pine nuts would be celebrated every year after this.

According to ARG Palace, the pine nuts export reaches to 23 thousand metric tons annually and would be exported with name and sign of Afghanistan after this.

This comes as President Ghani had earlier said a major portion of the benefits from pine nuts exports goes to the pockets of the outsiders which amount up to $500 million a year.

Speaking during the closing ceremony of industrial exhibition in Kabul in December last year, President Ghani said pine nuts export from Afghanistan amounts to $700 million a year.

However, he said the turn over as a result of the exports of the pine nuts from another country reaches to $1.2 billion a year as the third country exporting the Afghan products make an annual profit of up to $500 million.